Zumba

You know what’s even better than regular Zumba? Having a jam session with another crazy talented Zumba instructor! Jackie is the instructor who helped me come out of my shell when I was first attending classes, and now I’m jamming with her and sharing routines. Dreams really do come true!

I’ve been volunteer teaching while on vacation this summer and it’s been a blast and a wonderful learning experience. It’s difficult to go into someone else’s class and take over with new music and new routines. But you just gotta keep smiling and dancing and hope that your class loves your routines as much as you do!

The key to success is letting your love of dance, fitness, and Zumba show because the class will feed off of your energy. If you don’t love the routine, chances are your participants won’t either. I choose music that gets me pumped up every time I hear it! As the instructor, I take pride in putting a playlist together that has me saying “Oh, I love this one!” every time a new song starts because I know that I’m going to put my all into every step.

I had the privilege of joining over 40 other incredibly talented Zumba instructors by participating in the Mid Valley Family YMCA Zumbathon. Two hours of music, dancing, sweating, and smiles! The YMCA was able to raise quite a bit of money for a great cause, and we were able to help people on the path to better health. I love being a part of the Zumba community!

With the Zumbathon following right behind the LA Salsa Congress, hitting the beach for some surf and relaxation was a must. My kids and I had cartwheel contests and played football. In general, just enjoyed our day off together before they get through the last stretch of school. I’ve got some big plans for the summer so hopefully they can keep up! But for the next two weeks at least, it’s business as usual and back to the work week.

Staying fit takes a lot of work, I don’t think many would argue that point. Being fit and trying to inspire others to live out their goals of being healthy is something else. But, being a healthy and fit mom while trying to keep your kids healthy and active is a full-time job in and of itself!

A lot of people like to reminisce about “when we were young” and kids used to play more. I was part of that last generational wave of kids who would hop on their bikes and disappear for hours with a group of friends. We’d play dodgeball and run relay races until I heard my dad’s whistle piercing the neighborhood, signaling us to come home. Children don’t do that anymore today, or at least not as much. Nowadays, these technologically savvy kids are more likely to sit down in front of a video game system or a tablet and play Minecraft or take hundreds of selfies that use up the entire memory card.

We’re in an age now where parents have to focus on keeping their children active and healthy to avoid problems with childhood obesity and all the consequences that accompany it. Thankfully, as a society, we are becoming more aware of the adverse effects of processed foods and the like, but that doesn’t make it any easier with busy schedules, working parents, and the accessibility of those types of foods.

So, in honor of Mother’s Day and the spirit of keeping not only adults, but also the children we love, healthy and fit, my daughter and I hosted Mother’s Day Zumba this morning! Part of our daily chore list at home is a physical activity of some sort and we sure got our workout in! Lots of sweat, lots of fun, and an impromptu dance performance by the little girls at the end of class!

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Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms out there! Keep being your amazing selves while raising amazing kids at the same time!

Two classes in and I’m already totally in love with being a Zumba instructor! Being able to share something that has brought me not only a lot of laughter and smiles, but also helped tone and tighten my body in ways that weightlifting couldn’t have is very important to me. It’s such a fun and energetic way to workout! Plus, there’s a bond created with everyone in the class! There are times when you can feel yourself wearing down and getting tired, but you see the woman next to you giving it her all and it pushes you to work that much harder when, in reality, she thinks you’re the one pushing her!

Two more Zumba Routines added! Tomorrow is the big day, I’m teaching my first class and cannot express how excited I am. Health and wellness are very important to me, and any step in helping others on their own journey as they navigate that seemingly overwhelming path brings me joy.

So, if you’re in the area, stop on by and we’ll have a blast dancing and getting our bodies moving!

Big news on the Zumba front! Starting May 1st, I will be teaching two classes a week and I could not be more excited. This is another step forward in my pursuit of helping others live a healthier (and happier) lifestyle!

How did everyone do with our Friday Challenge last week? My “Go & Do” activity was a Reggaeton Zumba Jam Session! I have always wanted to dance and spent my whole life watching and not participating.

Here we are in our sweaty, Zumba glory! Maybe we should have taken the pictures before the three-hour class…

This year I decided to change that and started taking classes, going salsa dancing, and got my Zumba instructor certification a month ago. The only thing holding you back from doing what you love is you!